PaperArtsy: "Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...." {with JOFY stamps by Jo Firth-Young }

Hi everyone, Jo here bringing you a little bit of Christmas (39 days 'til the big man in the red suits pays his annual visit, in case you were wondering). I have to confess that I love a Christmas decoration (or two) - and I try to create several Christmas decorations each year - and for this blog post I've created a snowy Christmas canvas.

I decorated a 20x20cm board canvas (available from PaperArtsy at shows or by email) using bauble stamps from JOFY27 and JOFY28 - it was my intention when I designed these stamp designs that they were created big enough to use on canvasses and other dimensional projects.

JOFY27

JOFY28

I picked 'cold' Fresco Finish paint colours for the canvas's background to give a wintery Christmas feel that would be perfect with the die cut snowflakes and 'noel' (sizzix) motif I planned to use.

(Slate and French Roast were included to use for shadowing on the baubles)(Slate and Turquoise are paint colours from JOFY Limited Edition Fresco Paints #2)

I painted the canvas with a washed effect, adding white around the edges, I also included Sage in the colours to soften the Turquoise.

I stenciled snowflakes onto the canvas using 'Snowflake' paint for a crisp finish - moving it around the canvas until the entire surface was covered.

I loved how the canvas looked at this point - so pretty!

I used the snowflake mini and Metallic Glaze to stamp over the surface -

JM07

I like how the glaze/sparkle is only visible when it is tilted to the light

I lightly dragged the edges of the canvas with Turquoise paint and then set the canvas to one side and started to create the baubles and embellishments.

I die cut snowflakes and a snowflake corner design from Smoothy card, and then die cut the word 'Noel' from corrugated cardboard and embossed it with Frantage Embossing Enamel.

Next for baubles... and this is where I got carried away and forgot to photograph the progress (I'm going tape a sign on the desk that says 'PHOTOGRAPHS' to remind myself. Apologies) - luckily I used techniques we are all familiar with...

The 'metal cap' on all the baubles were painted pale grey and when dry had a layer of metallic glaze - this gives a 'silver' finish.

Here is a run down of how each was created working from left to right on the photograph below (with photos where possible):

Bauble (from JOFY27) stamped onto Smoothy card painted with Sage Fresco Finish stamped with snowflakes

Pointed bauble (JOFY28) stamped onto scrapbook paper that had been altered by painting with a diluted Turquoise and Sage mix. The word 'Joy' (JOFY28) was stamped on and painted with Turquoise, dried and painted again with Metallic Glaze.

Spotted band bauble (JOFY28) (centre of canvas) stamped onto kraft card that had been painted with Metallic Glaze. The band was stamped onto a page of book text, cut out and glued onto the kraft border. The spots were painted in colours coordinating with the canvas and other baubles and a button added.

Book text bauble (JOFY28) - stamped on to a page of book text, the ivy leaves are JM28

I stamped them onto green patterned paper, added colour (Hey Pesto), cut them out and added to the bauble with glue and 3d foam.

The pointed blue bauble was created by painting a panel of Smoothy card with a mix of Turquoise and Chalk a paint and when dry stamping the bauble onto top and adding the word 'joy' which was painted with Chalk paint.

In the bottom right hand corner of the canvas I stamped 'deck the halls' (JOFY27) and painted the letters with Snowflake.

I arranged all the elements and when happy with how they looked I glued them onto the canvas board - the images are all layered with each other - some baubles are under the word Noel while some are on top, some are flush mounted and some are on 3d foam - its nice/interesting to created different heights. I mostly used matte medium to glue things onto the canvas.

And finally I added gems - its christmas and chrismas expects sparkles and bling!

Here is the canvas again

I hope this project has inspired you and brought a little festive cheer to your day.

I hope its not too early to wish you all a Happy Christmas??

A huge thanks to Jo, or is that a big 'Ho Ho Ho' from PaperArtsy HQ?? Yes the Christmas spirit is here, all the shops are playing songs already, so it must be that time of the year!

We love how Jo manages to pull a canvas together with such simple ideas, but so many interesting layers! Another great gift for someone special!

We would love you to join in with our monthly challenge. If you are inspired by any of this month's guests who have blogged in November then join in and link up your creativity HERE. You will go in the draw to win a voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. You need to add your link by 19:00 (London time) Nov 30th 2014. Good luck and thanks for playing along!